I’ve now been back from Bendigo for five days and I’m still sick. Getting better but not much fun to be around.
When I got home I just tossed everything into the sunroom and have only now started unpacking, sorting and labelling the yarn that came back home with me.
Although I was busy looking after the stall at the Bendigo Sheep Show, I did get a chance to wander around, meet some charming Dorper sheep and spend money on other people’s stalls.
I didn’t do a lot of shopping, but I’m very happy with the three things I did buy – and here they are.
Yes – I bought a toy alpaca. I’m not exactly sure what possessed me, but there was no way I could leave the Australian Alpaca stall without him.
I bought the spindle to stop myself from buying a spinning wheel. I’m convinced that my life will be richer and more glamorous if I can spin my own yarn but a spinning wheel is a big purchase and I don’t really have room for one. And what if I’m terrible at spinning? How could I justify spending $600 on a wheel only to discover that I’m terrible at spinning or I hate it?
So I’m starting with a drop spindle and have so far established that I’m terrible at spinning and would still quite like to own a spinning wheel. One of the big, cumbersome sleeping-beauty style ones, not the efficient, quiet, compact ones that experienced spinners recommend. I’m not very practical.
The two hanks of yarn are for a jumper for the man. They are from North East Yarns. The yarn is 8ply weight, undyed (from coloured sheep) and gorgeous. The completely insane Colleen Arnold from Kyabram is one of the members of North East Yarns and her visits to our stall were a welcome distraction from how cold and sick I felt.
Now I’m home again, and will be back at work next week, it’s business as usual.
Speaking of which, I have a new class coming up.
I’m teaching sock knitting using the magic loop technique over three weeks at Morris and Sons in Melbourne. The classes are August 5, 12 and 18 – from 12.30 to 2.30. So you need to be able to come to all three classes and find time for a few hours of knitting homework between classes. There are still a few places left so if you’d like to attend, call Morris and Sons on 03 9654 0888.
